MIDA- and TIDA-Boronates Stabilize α-Radicals Through B−N Hyperconjugation

Multifunctional organoboron compounds increasingly enable the simple generation of complex, Csp³-rich small molecules. The ability of boron-containing functional groups to modify the reactivity of α-radicals has also enabled a myriad of chemical reactions. Boronic esters with vacant p-orbitals have a significant stabilizing effect on α-radicals due to delocalization of spin density into the empty orbital. The effect of coordinatively saturated derivatives, such as N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates and counterparts, remains less clear. Herein, we demonstrate that coordinatively saturated MIDA and TIDA boronates stabilize secondary alkyl α-radicals via σ_B-N hyperconjugation in a manner that allows site-selective C−H bromination. DFT calculated radical stabilization energies and spin density maps as well as LED NMR kinetic analysis of photochemical bromination rates of different boronic esters further these findings. This work clarifies that the α-radical stabilizing effect of boronic esters does not only proceed via delocalization of radical character into vacant boron p-orbitals, but that hyperconjugation of tetrahedral boron-containing functional groups and their ligand electron delocalizing ability also play a critical role. These findings establish boron ligands as a useful dial for tuning reactivity at the α-carbon.     

Rapid Access to Highly Functionalized Alkyl Boronates by NiH‐Catalyzed Remote Hydroarylation of Boron‐Containing Alkenes

The direct and selective functionalization of relatively simple and readily accessible precursors to produce highly functionalized alkyl boronates is a synthetically useful process. Herein we report a NiH‐catalyzed remote hydroarylation process that can, through a synergistic combination of chain walking and subsequent cross‐coupling, introduce an aryl group at the adjacent carbon atom of alkyl boronates under mild conditions. By means of a preliminary experiment with moderate enantioselectivity, it was shown that an asymmetric version could also be realized.     

Stereoselective Direct Chlorination of Alkenyl MIDA Boronates: Divergent Synthesis of E and Z α‐Chloroalkenyl Boronates

The individual molecules of α‐chloroalkenyl boronates include both an electrophilic C−Cl bond and a nucleophilic C−B bond, which makes them intriguing organic synthons. Reported herein is a stereodivergent synthesis of both E and Z α‐chloroalkenyl N ‐methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) boronates through the direct chlorination of alkenyl MIDA boronates using t BuOCl and PhSeCl reagents, respectively. Both reaction processes are stereospecific and the use of sp³‐B MIDA boronate is the key contributor to the reactivity. The synthetic value of the boronate products was also demonstrated.     

Pushing the Lewis Acidity Boundaries of Boron Compounds With Non‐Planar Triarylboranes Derived from Triptycenes

Bending the planar trigonal boron center of triphenylborane by connecting its aryl rings with carbon or phosphorus linkers gave access to a series of 9‐boratriptycene derivatives with unprecedented structures and reactivities. NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction of the Lewis adducts of these non‐planar boron Lewis acids with weak Lewis base revealed particularly strong covalent bond formation. The first Lewis adduct of a trivalent boron compounds with the Tf₂N^? anion illustrates the unrivaled Lewis acidity of these species. Increasing the pyramidalization of the boron center and using a cationic phosphonium linker resulted in an exceptional enhancement of Lewis acidity. Introduction of a phosphorus and a boron atom at each edge of a triptycene framework, allowed access to new bifunctional Lewis acid‐base 9‐phospha‐10‐boratriptycenes featuring promising reactivity for the activation of carbon‐halogen bonds.     

Four‐Coordinate Boron Emitters with Tridentate Chelating Ligand for Efficient and Stable Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Organic Light‐Emitting Devices

A new class of four‐coordinate donor‐acceptor fluoroboron‐containing thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) compounds bearing a tridentate 2,2′‐(pyridine‐2,6‐diyl)diphenolate (dppy) ligand has been successfully designed and synthesized. Upon varying the donor moieties from carbazole to 10H‐spiro[acridine‐9,9′‐fluorene] to 9,9‐dimethyl‐9,10‐dihydroacridine, these boron derivatives exhibit a wide range of emission colors spanning from blue to yellow with a large spectral shift of 2746 cm^?1, with high PLQYs of up to 96 % in the doped thin film. Notably, vacuum‐deposited organic light‐emitting devices (OLEDs) made with these boron compounds demonstrate high performances with the best current efficiencies of 55.7 cd A^?1, power efficiencies of 58.4 lm W^?1 and external quantum efficiencies of 18.0 %. More importantly, long operational stabilities of the green‐emitting OLEDs based on 2 with half‐lifetimes of up to 12 733 hours at an initial luminance of 100 cd m^?2 have been realized. This work represents for the first time the design and synthesis of tridentate dppy‐chelating four‐coordinate boron TADF compounds for long operational stabilities, suggesting great promises for the development of stable boron‐containing TADF emitters.     

Accessing Ambiphilic Phosphine Boronates through C−H Borylation by an Unforeseen Cationic Iridium Complex

Ambiphilic molecules, which contain a Lewis base and Lewis acid, are of great interest based on their unique ability to activate small molecules. Phosphine boronates are one class of these substrates that have interesting catalytic activity. Direct access to these phosphine boronates is described through the iridium‐catalyzed C?H borylation of phosphines. An unconventional cationic iridium catalyst was identified as optimal for a range of phosphines, providing good yields and selectivity across a diverse class of phosphine boronates (isolated as the borane‐protected phosphine). A complimentary catalyst system (quinoline‐based silane ligand with [(COD)IrOMe]₂) was optimal for biphenyl‐based phosphines. Selective polyborylation was also shown providing bis‐ and tris‐borylated phosphines. Deprotection of the phosphine boronate provided free ambiphilic phosphine boronates, which do not have detectable interactions between the phosphorus and boron atoms in solution or the solid state.     

Synthesis of Aminoboronic Acid Derivatives from Amines and Amphoteric Boryl Carbonyl Compounds

Herein, we demonstrate the use of α‐boryl aldehydes and acyl boronates in the synthesis of aminoboronic acid derivatives. This work highlights the untapped potential of boron‐substituted iminium ions and offers insights into the behavior of N‐methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) boronates during condensation and tautomerization processes. The preparative value of this contribution lies in the demonstration that various amines, including linear and cyclic peptides, can be readily conjugated with boron‐containing fragments. A mild deprotection of amino MIDA‐boronates enables access to α‐ and β‐aminoboronic acids in high chemical yields. This simple process should be applicable to the synthesis of a wide range of bioactive molecules as well as precursors for cross‐coupling reactions.     

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Vinyl Boronates and Vinyl Silanes via Atom‐Economical Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Alkene–Alkyne Coupling

The synthesis of vinyl boronates and vinyl silanes was achieved by employing a Ru‐catalyzed alkene–alkyne coupling reaction of allyl boronates or allyl silanes with various alkynes. The double bond geometry in the generated vinyl boronates can be remotely controlled by the juxtaposing boron‐ and silicon groups on the alkyne substrate. The synthetic utility of the coupling products has been demonstrated in a variety of synthetic transformations, including iterative cross‐coupling reactions, and a Chan‐Lam‐type allyloxylation followed by a Claisen rearrangement. A sequential one‐pot alkene‐alkyne‐coupling/allylation‐sequence with an aldehyde to deliver a highly complex α‐silyl‐β‐hydroxy olefin with a handle for further functionalization was also realized.     

High Glass‐Transition Temperature Polymer Networks Harnessing the Dynamic Ring Opening of Pinacol Boronates

Differential scanning calorimetry of high molar mass poly(4‐vinylphenylboronic acid, pinacol ester)s evidenced unusual reactive events above 120 °C, resulting in a high glass‐transition temperature of 220 °C. A reversible ring‐opening reactivity of pinacol boronates is proposed, involving a nucleophilic attack on the sp² boron and subsequent bridging between boron atoms by interconnected pinacol moieties to form a densely crosslinked network with high T_g. FTIR, solid‐state NMR investigations, and rheology studies on the polymer as well as double‐tagging analyses on molecular model structures and theoretical calculations further support this hypothesis and indicate a ring‐opening inducing crosslinking. When diluted in an apolar solvent such as toluene, the polymer network can be resolubilized via ring closing, thus recovering the entropically favored linear chains featuring cyclic boronate esters.     

Organoboron Complexes in Edge‐Sharing Macrocycles: The Triphyrin(2.1.1)–Tetraphyrin(1.1.1.1) Hybrid

The formation of a precisely designed environment predefined for stabilizing electron‐deficient atoms, such as boron(III), is an important approach for optimizing the properties of a chromophore. A triphyrin(2.1.1) motif built on the extended π‐system of a tetraphyrin(1.1.1.1) skeleton creates a new coordination environment, with a CNN set of donors confined in a limited space predefined for binding small cations. The entrapment of boron(III) in the triphyrin(2.1.1) sector, with formation of a direct B?C bond, significantly changes the optical response and the global aromatic character of the compound, leading to an extension of the π‐delocalisation.     

Synthesis of Acylborons by Ozonolysis of Alkenylboronates: Preparation of an Enantioenriched Amino Acid Acylboronate

A concise synthesis of acylborons was achieved by ozonolysis of alkenyl MIDA (N ‐methyliminodiacetic acid) boronates. This reaction exhibits excellent functional‐group tolerance and is applicable to various acyl MIDA boronates and potassium acyltrifluroborates (KATs) which could not be synthesized by previous methods. In addition, α‐amino acylborons, which would be essential for peptide ligations, were prepared for the first time. The acylboron of l ‐alanine was obtained in high enantiopurity and found to be configurationally stable. Oligopeptide synthesis between the α‐amino KATs and amino acid in dilute aqueous media was studied.     

Regio‐ and Enantioselective Photodimerization within the Confined Space of a Homochiral Ruthenium/Palladium Heterometallic Coordination Cage

The photoinduced regio‐ and enantioselective coupling of naphthols and derivatives thereof is achieved in the confined chiral coordination space of a Ru^II metalloligand based cage. The racemic or enantiopure cages encapsulate naphthol guests, which then undergo a regiospecific 1,4‐coupling, rather than the normal 1,1‐coupling, to form 4‐(2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthyl)‐1,2‐napthoquinones; moderate stereochemical control is achieved with homochiral cages. The photoreactions proceed under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions but through distinct pathways that nevertheless involve the same radical intermediates. This unusual dimerization constitutes a very rare example of asymmetric induction in biaryl coupling by making use of coordination cages with dual functionality—photoredox reactivity and stereoselectivity.     

Transition Metal Catalyst Free Synthesis of Olefins from Organoboron Derivatives**

Stereoselective preparation of highly substituted olefins is still a severe challenge that requires well defined elimination precursors. Organoboron chemistry is particularly suited for the preparation of molecules with adjacent stereocenters. As organo boron substrates with leaving groups in β-position can undergo stereospecific syn- or anti-elimination, this chemistry harbors great potential for the synthesis of complex olefins. In recent years three main strategies emerged, which differ in their approach to the β-functionalized organoboron elimination precursor. (i) Stereoselective preparation of such elimination precursor can be achieved by addition of a boron-stabilized anion (d¹) to an aldehyde or ketone (a¹) or diastereoselective 1,3-rearrangement of suitable boron-ate-complexes. Stereospecific methods rely either on (ii) diastereospecific 1,2-metalate rearrangement of boron-ate-complexes that involve opening of appropriate heterocycles or (iii) addition of chiral carbenoids (d¹*) to chiral boronates (a¹*) with a leaving group in α-position.     

Boron(III) Carbazosubphthalocyanines: Core‐Expanded Antiaromatic Boron(III) Subphthalocyanine Analogues

Condensation of 1,8‐diamino‐3,6‐dichlorocarbazole with a series of disubstituted 1,3‐diiminoisoindolines, followed by treatment with BF₃?OEt₂ led to the formation of the corresponding core‐expanded boron(III) subphthalocyanine analogues. These air‐stable π‐conjugated boron(III) carbazosubphthalocyanines possess two boron‐containing seven‐membered‐ring units and a 16 π‐electron skeleton, and represent the first examples of antiaromatic boron(III) subphthalocyanine analogues as supported by spectroscopic and theoretical studies. The molecular structure of one of these compounds was unambiguously determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. In contrast to typical boron(III) subphthalocyanines, which adopt a cone‐shaped structure, the π skeleton of this compound is almost planar.     

Selective Formal Carbene Insertion into Carbon-Boron Bonds of Diboronates by N-Trisylhydrazones

Bisborylalkanes play important roles in organic synthesis as versatile bifunctional reagents. The two boron moieties in these compounds can be selectively converted into other functional groups through cross-coupling, oxidation or radical reactions. Thus, the development of efficient methods for synthesizing bisborylalkanes is highly demanded. Herein we report a new strategy to access bisborylalkanes through the reaction of N-trisylhydrazones with diboronate, in which the bis(boryl) methane is transformed into 1,2-bis(boronates) via formal carbene insertion. Since the N-trisylhydrazones can be readily derived from the corresponding aldehydes, this strategy represents a practical synthesis of 1,2-diboronates with broad substrate scope. Mechanistic studies reveal an unusual neighboring group effect of 1,1-bis(boronates), which accounts for the observed regioselectivity when unsymmetric 1,1-diboronates are applied.     

Endohedral and Exohedral Metalloborospherenes: M@B40 (M=Ca,Sr) and M&B40 (M=Be,Mg)

The recent discovery of the all‐boron fullerenes or borospherenes, D_2d B₄₀^−/0, paves the way for borospherene chemistry. Here we report a density functional theory study on the viability of metalloborospherenes: endohedral M@B₄₀ (M=Ca, Sr) and exohedral M&B₄₀ (M=Be, Mg). Extensive global structural searches indicate that Ca@B₄₀ ( 1 , C_2v, ¹A₁) and Sr@B₄₀ ( 3 , D_2d, ¹A₁) possess almost perfect endohedral borospherene structures with a metal atom at the center, while Be&B₄₀ ( 5 , C_s, ¹A′) and Mg&B₄₀ ( 7 , C_s, ¹A′) favor exohedral borospherene geometries with a η⁷‐M atom face‐capping a heptagon on the waist. Metalloborospherenes provide indirect evidence for the robustness of the borospherene structural motif. The metalloborospherenes are characterized as charge‐transfer complexes (M²⁺B₄₀²⁻), where an alkaline earth metal atom donates two electrons to the B₄₀ cage. The high stability of endohedral Ca@B₄₀ ( 1 ) and Sr@B₄₀ ( 3 ) is due to the match in size between the host cage and the dopant. Bonding analyses indicate that all 122 valence electrons in the systems are delocalized as σ or π bonds, being distributed evenly on the cage surface, akin to the D_2d B₄₀ borospherene.     

A Four‐Component Reaction for the Synthesis of Dioxadiazaborocines

A four‐component reaction for the synthesis of heterocyclic boronates is reported. Readily available hydrazides, α‐hydroxy aldehydes, and two orthogonally reactive boronic acids are combined in a single step to give structurally distinct bicyclic boronates, termed dioxadiazaborocines (DODA borocines). In this remarkable process, one boronic acid reacts as a carbon nucleophile and the other as a boron electrophile to provide enantio‐ and diastereomerically pure heterocyclic boronates with multiple stereocenters in high yields.     

Electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectrometry of cyclic boronate derivatives of sphingosines and related compounds

Electron impact and isobutane chemical ionization mass spectrometric data are reported for cyclic boronate esters of sphinganine and 4-sphingenine and of the related N-ethyl, N-dimethylaminomethylene and acetone Schiff base compounds. Fragmentation of the 6-membered boronate ring is promoted by the presence of the 2-amino or 2-imino substituent and by Δ⁴ unsaturation. Evidence is presented for a transannular interaction stabilizing the ion formed by loss of the alkyl or aryl group, attached to the boron atom, in the case of the N-dimethylaminomethylene derivatives. An NH₂ migration is postulated to occur in 4-sphingenine boronates under electron impact. Mass spectrometric data are also reported for 4D-hydroxysphinganine bis-boronates.     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Radical Addition of CX4 Reagents to Olefins

We describe the synthetically useful enantioselective addition of Br−CX₃ (X=Cl or Br) to terminal olefins to introduce a trihalomethyl group and generate optically active secondary bromides. Computational and experimental evidence supports an asymmetric atom‐transfer radical addition (ATRA) mechanism in which the stereodetermining step involves outer‐sphere bromine abstraction from a [(bisphosphine)Rh^IIBrCl] complex by a benzylic radical intermediate. This mechanism appears unprecedented in asymmetric catalysis.     

Saturated Boronic Acids,Boronates, and Trifluoroborates: An Update on Their Synthetic and Medicinal Chemistry

This review discusses recent advances in the chemistry of saturated boronic acids, boronates, and trifluoroborates. Applications of the title compounds in the design of boron-containing drugs are surveyed, with special emphasis on α-amino boronic derivatives. A general overview of saturated boronic compounds as modern tools to construct C(sp³)−C and C(sp³)-heteroatom bonds is given, including recent developments in the Suzuki-Miyaura and Chan-Lam cross-couplings, single-electron-transfer processes including metallo- and organocatalytic photoredox reactions, and transformations of boron “ate” complexes. Finally, an attempt to summarize the current state of the art in the synthesis of saturated boronic acids, boronates, and trifluoroborates is made, with a brief mention of the “classical” methods (transmetallation of organolithium/magnesium reagents with boron species, anti-Markovnikov hydroboration of alkenes, and the modification of alkenyl boron compounds) and a special focus on recent methodologies (boronation of alkyl (pseudo)halides, derivatives of carboxylic acids, alcohols, and primary amines, boronative C−H activation, novel approaches to alkene hydroboration, and 1,2-metallate-type rearrangements).